NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Vice President JD Vance spoke Tuesday about the controversy over Olympic skier Eileen Gu choosing to compete for China instead of the United States.
Vance admitted he has “no idea” what Gus’ status “should be” during an interview on Pakinomist’ “The Story With Martha McCallum.” But the VP said he hopes American citizens would choose to compete for the United States on the world stage.
“I have no idea what her status is going to be, I think that’s ultimately up to the Olympic Committee, I’m not going to pretend to wade into that,” Vance said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of Team People’s Republic of China looks on during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Freeski Big Air on day ten of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park on February 16, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
“Certainly I think someone who grew up in the United States and has benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope they would compete with the United States. So I want to root for American athletes, I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for in the Olympics.”
Gu has been at the center of international criticism, particularly from Americans, about her decision to represent China at these Olympics. She also represented China at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
EILEEN GU RECEIVES FLASHBACK FOR COMMENTING ON TRUMP’S STATEMENT WHILE REPRESENTING CHINA
China’s Eileen Gu reacts after running two of the Freestyle Skiing, Women’s Freeski Slopestyle Final at Livigno Snow Park, on day three of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Italy, February 9, 2026. (David Davies/PA Photos via Getty Images)
She grew up in California and went to Stanford, although her mother is a first-generation Chinese immigrant to the United States
She made her decision to compete for China in 2019. Gu said at the time that it was an “incredibly tough” decision and Americans were not too happy about her decision given the geopolitical tension between the US and China.
Gu is the highest paid Winter Olympics athlete in the world, earning an estimated $23 million by 2025 alone amid partnerships with Chinese companies, including the Bank of China, and Western companies. Gu has said she represents China for her mother, who was born there.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
Eileen Gu of China competes in heat two of the Women’s Freeski Big Air Final on day ten of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park on February 16, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Gu and Zhu Yi, another American-born figure skater who now competes for China, were paid $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025 to “strive for outstanding results in qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.” In total, the two were reportedly paid nearly $14 million over the past three years.
Gu has never spoken out publicly against China’s alleged human rights abuses, including the nation’s alleged systematic campaign of repression against Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, or the imprisonment of politician Jimmy Lai.
Gu has won two silver medals in freestyle skiing in Milano Cortina, in slopestyle and big air events. She has one final event, the halfpipe, left on Saturday where she has a chance to add to her total.
